**Charity number: 285391**
## **ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **UNAUDITED**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **CONTENTS**
||Page|
|---|---|
|**Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers**|1|
|**Trustees' report**|2 - 3|
|**Independent examiner's report**|4|
|**Statement of financial activities**|5|
|**Balance sheet**|6|
|**Notes to the financial statements**|7 - 14|
**ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Trustees**
James R B Odgers Caroline Collington Deborah Foster Thomas Archer
## **Charity registered number**
285391
## **Principal office**
6 Jubilee Road St George Bristol BS5 8HZ
## **Honorary officer**
Deborah Foster
## **Accountants**
Baldwin Scofield Accountancy LLP Chartered Accountants 3 Newhouse Business Centre Old Crawley Road Horsham West Sussex RH12 4RU
## **Bankers**
National Westminster Bank plc 1 Princes Street London EC2R 8PA
Page 1
## **ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the St Stephen Society for the 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
## **Objectives and activities**
## **Policies and objectives**
The objectives of the charity are the promotion of the Christian faith and relief of poverty throughout the world.
In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.
## **Achievements and performance**
## **Review of activities**
Jackie Pullinger-To's ministry in Hong Kong continues to rescue people from addictions and to bring them into a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Trustees continue to consider that this ministry represents the best use for the monies received from donors in the UK and thus again monies have been transferred to the sister charity in Hong Kong, St Stephen's Society.
## **Financial review**
## **Going concern**
After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
## **Principal risks and uncertainties**
The Trustees consider that the main risks of governing the charity are in connection with the management of its cash assets and with the dissemination of grants payable which are reviewed formally by the Trustees at each meeting.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **Constitution**
St Stephen Society is a registered charity, number 285391, and is constituted under a Trust deed.
## **Methods of appointment or election of Trustees**
The management of the Charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Trust deed.
## **Organisational structure and decision-making policies**
The charity is managed by the Trustees and the Honorary officer.
Page 2
## **ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees on 27 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
**Deborah Foster** (Trustee)
Page 3
**ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of St Stephen Society ('the Charity')**
I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the Trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Your attention is drawn to the fact that the Charity has prepared the accounts in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has been withdrawn.
I understand that this has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
This report is made solely to the Charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.
Signed:
Signed: Dated: 27 September 2025 Nicholas M Baldwin BA(Econ) FCA DChA
**Baldwin Scofield Accountancy LLP** Chartered Accountants
Page 4
## **ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Investments
4
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
6
**Total expenditure**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**97,325**
**522**
**97,847**
**80,955**
**80,955**
**16,892**
**30,208**
**16,892**
**47,100**|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**97,325**
**522**
**97,847**
**80,955**
**80,955**
**16,892**
**30,208**
**16,892**
**47,100**|_Total_
_funds_
_2024_
_£_
_45,404_
_330_
_45,734_
_78,711_
_78,711_
_(32,977)_
_63,185_
_(32,977)_
_30,208_|
|---|---|---|---|
The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 7 to 14 form part of these financial statements.
Page 5
## **ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025**
|**Note**
**Current assets**
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
**Current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
11
**Net current assets**
**Total net assets**
**Charity funds**
Restricted funds
13
Unrestricted funds
13
**Total funds**|**15,816**
**32,418**
**48,234**
**(1,134)**|**2025**
**£**
**47,100**
**47,100**
**-**
**47,100**
**47,100**|_5,884_
_25,704_
_31,588_
_(1,380)_|_2024_
_£_
_30,208_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
|||||_30,208_|
|||||_-_
_30,208_|
||||||
|||||_30,208_|
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 27 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
## **Deborah Foster**
(Trustee)
The notes on pages 7 to 14 form part of these financial statements.
Page 6
**ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **1. General information**
St Stephen Society is a registered charity, number 285391, and is constituted under a Trust deed.
## **2. Accounting policies**
## **2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair' view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS 102) published in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
St Stephen Society meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
## **2.2 Income**
All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.
## **2.3 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is made except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
Page 7
**ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.4 Interest receivable**
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the institution with whom the funds are deposited.
## **2.5 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **2.6 Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **2.7 Liabilities and provisions**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of financial activities as a finance cost.
## **2.8 Financial instruments**
The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **2.9 Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
Page 8
## **ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **3. Income from donations and legacies**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Donations
97,325
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2024_
_£_
Donations
_45,404_
**Investment income**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Investment income - local cash
522
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2024_
_£_
Investment income - local cash
_330_|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**97,325**|
|---|---|
||_Total_
_funds_
_2024_
_£_
_45,404_|
||**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**522**|
||_Total_
_funds_
_2024_
_£_
_330_|
**4. Investment income**
Page 9
**ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **5. Analysis of grants**
|Grants - St Stephen's Society, Hong Kong
Grants - St Stephen's Society, Hong Kong|**Grants to**
**Institutions**
**2025**
**£**
80,000
_Grants to_
_Institutions_
_2024_
_£_
_76,000_|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**80,000**|
|---|---|---|
|||_Total_
_funds_
_2024_
_£_
_76,000_|
## **6. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities Summary by fund type**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Direct costs of charitable activities
80,955
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2024_
_£_
Direct costs of charitable activities
_78,711_
**7.**
**Analysis of expenditure by activities**
**Grant**
**funding of**
**activities**
**2025**
**Support**
**costs**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
Direct costs of charitable activities
80,000
955|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
**80,955**|
|---|---|
||_Total_
_2024_
_£_
_78,711_|
||**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**80,955**|
Page 10
**ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **7. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
||_Grant_|||
|---|---|---|---|
||_funding of_|_Support_|_Total_|
||_activities_|_costs_|_funds_|
||_2024_|_2024_|_2024_|
||_£_|_£_|_£_|
|Direct costs of charitable activities|_76,000_|_2,711_|_78,711_|
## **Analysis of support costs**
|Bank charges
General costs and digitisation project
Governance costs|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**121**
**-**
**834**
**955**|_Total_
_funds_
_2024_
_£_
_110_
_1,521_
_1,080_|
|---|---|---|
|||_2,711_|
## **8. Independent examiner's remuneration**
||**2025**|_2024_|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|_£_|
|Fees payable to the Charity's independent examiner for the independent|||
|examination of the Charity's annual accounts|**1,134**|_1,080_|
## **9. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits _(2024 - £NIL)_ .
During the year ended 31 March 2025, no Trustee expenses have been incurred _(2024 - £NIL)_ .
Page 11
## **ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **10. Debtors**
|**Due within one year**
Tax recoverable|**2025**
**£**
**15,816**
**15,816**|_2024_
_£_
_5,884_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_5,884_|
## **11. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
||**2025**|_2024_|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|_£_|
|Accruals and deferred income|**1,134**|_1,380_|
**12. Financial instruments**
||**2025**|_2024_|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|_£_|
|**Financial assets**|||
|Financial assets measured at fair value through income and expenditure|**32,418**|_25,704_|
Financial assets measured at fair value through income and expenditure comprise balances held at bank.
Page 12
**ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **13. Statement of funds**
## **Statement of funds - current year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General Funds - all funds
**Statement of funds - prior year**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund|**Balance at 1**
**April 2024**
**£**
**30,208**
_Balance at_
_1 April 2023_
_£_
_63,185_|**Income**
**£**
**97,847**
_Income_
_£_
_45,734_|**Expenditure**
**£**
**(80,955)**
_Expenditure_
_£_
_(78,711)_|**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2025**
**£**
**47,100**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_Balance at_
_31 March_
_2024_
_£_
_30,208_|
Page 13
**ST STEPHEN SOCIETY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **14. Summary of funds**
## **Summary of funds - current year**
|General funds
**Summary of funds - prior year**
General funds|**Balance at 1**
**April 2024**
**£**
**30,208**
_Balance at_
_1 April 2023_
_£_
_63,185_|**Income**
**£**
**97,847**
_Income_
_£_
_45,734_|**Expenditure**
**£**
**(80,955)**
_Expenditure_
_£_
_(78,711)_|**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2025**
**£**
**47,100**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_Balance at_
_31 March_
_2024_
_£_
_30,208_|
## **15. Analysis of net assets between funds**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - current year**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Current assets
48,234
Creditors due within one year
(1,134)
**Total**
47,100
**Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year**
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2024_
_£_
Current assets
_31,588_
Creditors due within one year
_(1,380)_
**Total**
_30,208_|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**48,234**
**(1,134)**|
|---|---|
||**47,100**|
||_Total_
_funds_
_2024_
_£_
_31,588_
_(1,380)_|
||_30,208_|
Page 14